Winning Bizness Economic Desk
Mumbai. Indian Railways has introduced a major change in Tatkal ticket booking rules. Starting July 1, 2025, passengers will be required to complete Aadhar-based authentication while booking Tatkal tickets through the IRCTC website or app. The move aims to eliminate the role of touts and fake agents, ensuring that only genuine users book tickets. Aadhar verification will become the first mandatory step for all Tatkal bookings done online.
OTP Authentication Compulsory from July 15
From July 15, passengers will also need to go through an additional OTP (One-Time Password) verification linked to their Aadhar number. This step will apply to both app-based and counter bookings. The registered mobile number must be linked to the Aadhar card in order to receive the OTP. IRCTC has said that without completing this OTP step, bookings will not be confirmed, adding an extra layer of security.
No Agent Access in Initial 30 Minutes
To prevent bulk bookings by agents, the new rules also impose a 30-minute window during which agents will be barred from booking any Tatkal tickets. For AC class, bookings start at 10 am and for non-AC at 11 am. Only regular passengers will be allowed to book during the first half hour. This move is expected to benefit genuine travelers who often miss out on tickets due to rapid bookings by automated software used by touts.
Booking at Counters Will Also Need Aadhar
From July 15, even those booking Tatkal tickets at railway counters will have to undergo Aadhar verification. Passengers will be asked to provide their Aadhar number, and an OTP will be sent to their registered mobile number. If someone is booking on behalf of another person, the Aadhar details and OTP of the actual traveler must be provided at the counter.
Rules Apply Only to Tatkal Bookings
It is important to note that these rules are applicable only for Tatkal bookings. There is no requirement for Aadhar authentication for general or waitlisted tickets as of now. The IRCTC has clarified that the updated process is aimed solely at the time-sensitive Tatkal category to bring fairness and reduce fraudulent activity.
Nationwide Rollout with Help Support
These rules will be uniformly implemented across all zones in India. Whether a passenger is booking from Delhi to Mumbai or Chennai to Kolkata, Aadhar verification will be mandatory. In case of any technical difficulty like OTP not being received or failure in Aadhar linking, passengers can contact IRCTC helpline (139) or UIDAI helpline (1947). The IRCTC website also provides an option under the ‘My Profile’ section to link Aadhar with the user’s account.
Summary Pointers:
1. Aadhar authentication becomes mandatory for Tatkal bookings on IRCTC from July 1.
2. OTP verification through Aadhar-linked mobile number starts from July 15.
3. Agents barred from booking tickets during the first 30 minutes of Tatkal window.
4. Counter bookings will also require Aadhar number and OTP from July 15.
5. These new rules are applicable only for Tatkal tickets, not for general bookings.
6. IRCTC users must link their Aadhar in their account profile to proceed with book
7. Rules to be enforced across all Indian Railway zones with support from helplines.
